Finland's home care support proposal misses the mark on integration and employment

The Finnish government's proposed three-year residency requirement for home care support aims to steer recent immigrants toward integration and employment services. The policy, which would primarily impact women as they are the main recipients of this support, is intended to improve their labor market standing. However, the effectiveness of this measure is questioned, with evidence from Norway suggesting such policies have marginal impact on employment and early childhood education participation.

Instead of improving families' financial situations, the change could simply reduce their income. The article argues that the true obstacles to integration and employment lie in insufficient language, literacy, or professional skills, as well as discrimination in the labor market, particularly regarding pregnancy and family leave. These issues require robust support services, not benefit restrictions.

Ironically, the government plans to cut funding for integration services by 45 million euros annually from 2027, despite research highlighting their cost-effectiveness. While the government aims to shield language training, early childhood education, and employment services from these cuts, some municipalities warn that significant savings will inevitably affect these vital areas.

Furthermore, the proposal includes a less-discussed change: home care support will only be paid to the parent primarily caring for the child, affecting all families, not just immigrants. This means arrangements like grandparents providing care would require formal employment contracts and private care support applications, hindering families' flexibility in managing daily life.

Ultimately, the article contends that restricting benefits for a small group will not advance gender equality or improve women's labor market position. More effective strategies would involve combating pregnancy and family leave discrimination, strengthening services, and reforming childcare support systems to better balance work and family life.